US3166648A

US3166648A - Punch card-operated switch device

Info

Publication number: US3166648A
Application number: US226225A
Authority: US
Inventors: Rune H I Soderman; Herbert L Markman; Markman Abraham
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-09-26
Filing date: 1962-09-26
Publication date: 1965-01-19
Anticipated expiration: 1982-01-19

Description

Jan. 19, 1965 R. H. l. SODERMAN ETAL 3,166,648

PUNCH CARD-OPERATED SWITCH DEVICE Filed Sept. 26, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 19, 1965 R. H. SODERMAN ETAL 3,166,648

PUNCH CARD-OPERATED SWITCH DEVICE Filed Sept. 26, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS= RUNE HI. SODERM ERT RB L. MARK B RAHAM RKMAN ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,166,648 PUNCH CARD-OPERATED SWITCH DEVICE Rune H. I. Soderrnan, Stockton, NJL, Herbert L. Marisman, Stockton, NJ; (PAL). Box 85%, Philadelphia,

Pa), and Abraham Marlsman, Stoclrton, NJ. (R0.

Box 8503, Philadelphia, Pa); sa d Soderrnan assignor to Herbert L. lvlarkman, Philadelphia, Pa.

Filed Sept. 26, 1962, Ser. No. 226,225 14 Claims. (Cl. 200-46) This invention relates to electrical switch means, and it particularly relates to switch means set up in banks and actuated by punch cards to make or break electrical circuits for determining specified data.

Punch card actuated switch means heretofore generally in use have been difficult and expensive to produce and subject to easy breakdown, especially because of the fatigue and wear of various spring'and spring-clip elements used therein. When repair was needed, it was generally a laborious and difficult task, even when only a single element had to be repaired or replaced.

It is one object of the present invention to overcome the above'difliculties by providing a switch assembly which is easy and relatively inexpensive to produce and which. can be easily repaired when such repairs are necessary. I

.Another object of the present invention is to provide a switch assembly of the aforesaid type which eliminates the use of springs, spring clips, and other such elements which are subject to early fatigue and easy breakdown.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a switch assembly of the aforesaid type which is highly efficient in its operation and easy to use.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an assembly embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view' taken generally on line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a somewhat enlarged, detailed view of a switch housing shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 3. 7

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing an alternative embodiment of the switch housing.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of a supporting panel for the switch housings made up of stacked blocks.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective exploded-view of a form of the invention utilizing stacked blocks and showing a pair of blocks, in non-stacked position, together with a portion of an alternative form of plunger.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but showing an alternative embodiment of the stacked blocks.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary top plan view of the upper surface of one of the stacked blocks in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of the plunger used with the switch assembly illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9.

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 9 but showing an alternative embodiment thereof.

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 10 but showing a plunger used with the switch assembly of FIG. 11.

Referring now in greater detail to the various figures of the drawings wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts, there is shown a switch assembly, generally designated 10, comprising a base 12 having integral therewith a pair of spaced,

vertical panels

14 and 16. The

. tact portion 69L 3,166,648 Patented Jan. 19, 1965 ice panel 14 is provided with a series of rows of apertures through each of which extends the forward portion of a plunger 18. Each of these plungers 18 has a front end insertable into a corresponding aperture 20 in a front movable panel 22 while the rear portion of each plunger 18 extends through a corresponding aperture in a rear movable panel 24 and has a somewhat enlarged, cylindrical contact portion 26 at its rearmost end which is movable in a corresponding cylindrical switch housing 23 positioned in the panel 16. i

The

movable panels

22 and 24 are connected to each other for simultaneous movement by means of brackets 3% Guide pins 32 project forwardly from the fixed panel 14, adjacent each vertical edge thereof and these pins are received in corresponding apertures in the front portion of each bracket 3% to serve as guide means for maintaining the proper alignment of the movable panels during movement thereof along the upper surface of the base member 12. The

panels

22 and 24 are movable by means of an actuating means comprising a finger 34 projecting forwardly from the central portion of the lower edge of the panel 22 and provided with an aperture to receive a pivot pin 36 connecting it to one end of a link 33. The opposite end of the link 38 is connected by a pivot pin 44) to one end of a lever 42 pivoted to the base at 44 and provided with an offset portion 46 having ahandle 48.

The front movable panel 22 is provided with a vertical slot 5t centrally thereof, this slot 5% intersecting the apertures 29 (as best seen in FIG. 2), and adapted to hold a punch card 52 therein.

Each plunger 13 has a head 54 intermediate its ends, and this head bears against the rear movable panel 24 whereby when the plunger is moved rearwardly it moves the panel 24 along therewith, while when the panel 24 is moved forwardly it pushes the plunger ahead of it. The stationary panel 14 acts as a stop means to limit forward movement of the plunger by abutment with the head 54 (as illustrated in FIG. 2).

Each switch housing 28 comprises an outer cylindrical shell 56 constructed of electrically conductive material and mounted in an appropriate opening in the panel 16 which is, itself, constructed of electrically non-conductive material. On opposite front and rear faces of the panel 16 are

respective plates

58 and 60, also made of electrically non-conductive material and having mating apertures to respectively receive the plunger 18 and the rear portion of the switch housing. These plates securely confine the switch housings in the panel 16 The outer shell 56 of each switch housing is provided with an inwardly enlar ed front end forming a front con- Coaxial with the outer shell 56 and spaced inwardly therefrom by a cylindrical, electrically insulating intermediate shell 62 is an inner electrically conductive cylindrical shell 64. The front end of shell 64 is spaced from the enlarged front end 60 of shell 56 by an enlarged front portion 66 of intermediate shell 62. The three

coaxial shells

56, 62 and 64, at their rear portions,

are correspondingly reduced as they pass through plate 60, the shells 56 and .64 being connected at their rear ends to lead lines (not shown) connected to opposite sides of the circuit.

In the operation of the above-described device, a cardplunger will remain in engagement only with the front conductor 69 whereby that switch remains open. However, where the card 52 is not perforated, as it moves rearwardly, it pushes back the plunger to the position where the portion 26 bridges the insulated gap between the conductor portion 60 and the conductor shell 64 whereby the switchi closed. The number and position of the switches closed (or open as the case might be) determines the data'obt-ained; After each use, the handle 48 is manipulated to move the plunger 18 forwardly with it until head 54 abuts panel 14 which limits its further forward movement. The punch card is then removed.

In FIG. there is shown a modification of the switch housingof FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 wherein the housing 70 is rectangular insteadof circular in cross-sectionfland includes a rectangular outer shell 72 of insulating material and a rectangular inner shell 74 of insulatingmaterial. Upper and lower outer

conductive plates

76 and 78 are positioned between the

insulator shells

72 and 74 and'upper and lower inner

conductive plates

80 and 32 are positioned inwardly of insulative shell 74 and'are spaced from each other by the inner shell. Otherwise, this modification is similar to that shown in FIG. 3 in that the

outer plates

76 and 78 extend forwardly beyond the

inner plates

80 and 82 and are provided with enlarged forward portions similar to those shown at 60, these enlarged portions being spaced from the ends of

plates

80 and 82 by insulator portions similar to those shown at 66.,

Although'not specifically illustrated, the panel 16 is preferably built up of a series of vertically-stacked blocks made of electrically non-conductive material, each block having a bank of hemispherical recesses on opposite faces thereof which mate with similar recesses on the blocks above and below to form the switch housings, the coaxial conductive and

non-conductive shells

56, 62 and 64 being either printed 'or otherwise affixed to the walls of the recesses so that when the upper and lower recesses mate a complete switch housing is formed. On the other hand, if desired, the coaxial shells can be inserted after theblocks have been assembled and the openings formed.

The stacked block type of arrangement is more specifically illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 wherethe panel, generally desiguated 90, is made up of a series of vertically stacked blocks 92 having generally hemispherical recesses 94 on one face thereof and similar recesses 96 on the other face. These recesses mate to form openings 98 and, in the particular embodiment of the inventionillustrated in'FIGS. 6 and 7, the upper recesses 94, are fully coated with a conductive surface 100 except for nonconductive edge portions 102 along each side, while the lower recesses 96 are uncoated, with conductive material except for an arcuate band 104 adjacent the front edge and an elongated strip 106 extending rearwardly from the band 104. The band 104 is spaced at each end from the edges of the recess 96 and the strip 106 is also spaced from the corresponding edge of the recess so that non-conduc-. rive side edges 108 are formed similar to edges 102. When the blocks are stacked upon each other, the

edges

102 and 108 keep the conductive portions'from touching. At the front end of each opening forming a switch housing, except for the

edges

102, and 108, the band 104 and coating 100 form a complete conductive aperture. However, stretchingrearwardly from the area of the band 104, the entire upper portion of the opening is non-conand 7, when the plunger is in the forward position, the band 112 connects the band 104 with the conductive'c'oating and the circuit is closed. However, when the plunger is pushed back, the band 112 is in contact only with the non-conductive portion of recess 96 while the gap in the band 112 mates with the strip 106, thereby opening the circuit. The resilient nature of thefplunger and its hollow construction gives it a flexibil-itywhich causes it to retain a tight frictional'contact with the walls of the opening 98throughout its movement forward and backward therein. 5 I? In FIG. 8, a modification of theinvention is shown wherein the panel similar topanel 90, is built up of blocks 122 which are similar to blocks 92 except for the fact that only the'under'surfaceof the blocks 122 are provided with generally hemispherical recesses 124, the upper surfaces being'flat. With this construction, the plungers are of corresponding hemispherical shape. Although this type of block construction can be alternatively used 'both with the form of the invention shown in FIGS. l'to 5 and that shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, it is illustrated as being used with a form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 wherein two spaced, parallel electrically

conductive strips

126 and 128 are provided on'the flat upper surface of each block bounded by each convex recess 124 of the block above. The strip'126 is provided with a gap 130 close .to its front end while thestrip 128 is made integral with a bridging strip 132at thefront end. The bridging strip 132 is also integral with the front-end of strip 126 forwardly of the gap 130. The rear ends of the

strips

126 and 128 are connected to opposite sides of the circuit by lead line (not shown).

The plunger 134 (shown in FIG. 10) utilized with the construction of FIGS. 8 and 9 comprises an elec trically non-conductive body of hemispherical cross-section with the top surface being flat; at the-front end of the flat top surface is an electrically conductive plate 136; this plate being positioned adjacent one edge of the plunger. When the plunger 134 is inserted in'the owning formed by recess 124, it is" reversed from the position shown in FIG. 10 so that'the fiat side is down in abutment with the

conductive strips

126 and 128 in FIG. 9 and the plate 136 is at the front; When the plunger is in the forward position, the conductive-plate 136 of the plunger is in contact with the gap 130 and the gap is bridged to close the circuit. As the plunger is pushed back, the plate 136 leaves the gap 130 and the circuit is opened.

In FIGS. 11 and 12, the construction is almostidentical with that of FIGS. 9 and 10 except that' the two parallel, spaced conductive strips 140 and 142'both extend from one end to the other and both are provided with transverse portions, as at 144 and 146 respectively, at'the front end; A gap 148 separates the portions 144 and in the forward position the plate 152'bridges the gap" ductive except forthe strip 106. The coating 100 and strip 106 are connected by lead wires (not shown). to opposite sides of the circuit. 1

Coacting with each switch housing formed by the openings98 is a plunger 110 shaped similarly to plungers 18 except that his hollow and is made of a flexible or resilient electrically non-conductive material. Adjacent the rear end of theplunger 110 is an. arcuate band 112 of electrically conductive material. This band extends only partlyaround the plunger, leaving agap-which, when the plunger is inserted into the opening 98, mates with the conductive strip 106.

In the operationof theswitch mechanismof FIGS. 6

146.- The plunger 150 used in conjunction with this form' of the device is identical to plunger 134 except that the conductive plate 152 is in the center of thefront edge ofthe flat top surface so that when the plunger is 148 and closes the circuit, while when the plunger. is

pushed baclgthe plate 152 leaves the gap 148 and the circuit is opened. v

In the forms shown in FIGS. 8 to 12, 'the

gaps

130 and 148 and the plates i136 and'152 are shown at" the forward ends of their respective structural units, however,

ing a base member, a switch housing support panel rigidly connected to said base member, a plurality of individual switch housings in a bank, said housings opening from a front face of said support panel, each switch housing having a pair of contact members of which one contact memberis connected to one side and the other is connected to an opposite side of an electrical data circuit, an individual switch plunger axially movable in each switch housing, a pair of spaced, parallel movable panels movable in unison toward and away from said front face of the support panel, a first one of said movable panels being positioned between the second of said movable panels and the support panel, said second movable panel having a slot therein for removably receiving and holding a punch card, said slot being transverse to the plane of movement of said plungers, said second panel having a plurality of apertures therethrough corresponding in number and positions to said switch housings in said support panel, each aperture intersecting said slot and being constructed to slidably receive a corresponding plunger, said apertures permitting relative movement between said second movable panel and said individual plungers when any aperture in a punch card positioned in said slot mates with a plunger while, when said punch card has no mating aperture, movement of said second movable panel toward said support panel causes abutment of the plunger with the card and movement of the plunger in conjunction with the movable panels, means on said first movable panel engaging with said plungers to move said plungers away from said support panel upon movement of said first movable panel in the corresponding direction, the contact members in each switch housing being spaced from each other to form an electrical gap, and the corresponding plunger having an electrical contact constructed and arranged to bridge said gap when said plunger is in one position of axial movement and to leave said gap unbridged in other axial positions of said plunger.

2. The switch assembly of claim 1 wherein said support panel is constructed of a series of vertically stacked blocks of electrically non-conductive material, each block having a plurality of recesses on at least one side thereof, said recesses forming enclosures encompassing the switch housings.

3. The switch assembly of claim 1 wherein each switch housing comprises coaxially arranged inner and outer tubular conductive sleeves of electrically conductive material forming said pair of contact members, the conductive sleeves being radially spaced from each other by an electrically non-conductive intermediate sleeve and the conductive sleeves having contact portions at corresponding ends, said contact portions being axially spaced from each other to form said electrical gap.

4. The switch assembly of claim 1 wherein each switch housing comprises an inner and outer casing of electrically non-conductive material, a first pair of oppositelydisposed conductive plates between the the inner and outer casings and a second pair of oppositely-disposed conductive plates inwardly of the inner casing, the first pair of plates being electrically connected in common to the circuit and the second pair of plates being electrically connected in common to the circuit, said first pair of plates having contact portions and said second pair of plates having contact portions, the contact portions of said first pair of plates being spaced from the contact portions of said second pair of plates axially of the movement of said plunger.

5. The switch assembly of claim 1 wherein each switch housing comprises upper and lower curved walls of nonconductive material, one of said walls being coated over its entire surface with an electrically conductive material except for its opposite longitudinal edges mating with the corresponding edges of the other wall, said edges being non-conductive, and the other wall having an arcuate electrically conductive band thereon at one end and an electrically conductive strip extending from said band to the opposite end of the corresponding wall, and the plunger for each switch housing being cylindrical and having an arcuate band partially encompassing the circumference at one end thereof, said last-mentioned arcuate band having spaced ends leaving a gap which mates with the conductive strip on said other wall during movement of the plunger in the switch housing.

6. The switch assembly of claim 1 wherein the. pair of contact members comprise a pair of spaced, parallel electrically conductive strips extending longitudinally of the path of movement of the plunger, at least one of said strips having a transverse portion extending toward the other strip and a gap between said transverse portion and the other strip, and the plunger being electrically non-conductive but having an electrically conductive contact plate positioned to bridge said gap when said plunger is in a predetermined position.

7. The switch assembly of claim 1 wherein said plungers are constructed of resilient material.

8. A punch card-operated switch assembly comprising a single panel of electrically non-conductive material, a bank of electrical switch housings in said panel, a plunger movable in each of said switch housings, each switch housing including a pair of electrical conductors spaced from each other in the direction of movement of the corresponding plunger, each plunger having an electrical contact thereon arranged to open and close an electrical circuit between said spaced electrical conductors upon movement of said plunger from one position to another, a punch card holder movable toward and away from said support and having apertures therein to correspond in number and position with said switch housings and plungers, said holder being constructed to hold a punch card so that any perforations in the card mate with corresponding apertures in said holder, punched portions of said card permitting penetration therethrough of corresponding plungers when said holder is moved toward said support and unpunched portions acting to push the corresponding plungers in the direction of movement of the holder when the holder is moved toward said support, and means rigidly connected to said holder to move said plungers away from said support as said holder is moved away from said support.

9. In a punch card-operated switch assembly, a switch means comprising a housing having a pair of contact members of which one contact member is connected to one side and the other is connected to an opposite side of an electrical data circuit, a plunger axially movable in said housing, the contact members being laterally spaced from each other and extending longitudinally of the direction of movement of said plunger from one common end plane to an opposite common end plane, one of said contact members having a portion spaced axially from a corresponding portion of the other contact member to form an electrical gap, and the plunger having an electrical contact constructed to bridge said gap when said plunger is in one position of axial movement and to leave said gap unbridged in other axial positions of said plunger. 10. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the switch housing comprises coaxially arranged inner and outer tubular conductive sleeves of electrically conductive material forming said pair of contact members, the conductive sleeves being radially spaced from each other by an electrically non-conductive intermediate sleeve and the conductive sleeves having contact portions at correspondmg ends, said contact portions being axially spaced from each other to form said electrical gap.

11. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the housing comprises an inner and outer casing of electrically non-conductive material, a first pair of oppositely-disposed conductive plates between the inner and outer casings and a second pair of oppositely-disposed conductive plates inwardly of the inner casing, the first pair of plates being electrically connected in common to the circuit and the second pair of plates being electrically connected in conimon to the circuit, .said first pair of plates having contact portions and said second pair of plates having contactportions, the contact portions of said first pair of plates being spaced from the contact portions'ofsaid second pair of plates axially of the movement of said plunger.

12. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the housing comprises upper and lower curvedwalls of non-conductive material, one of said walls, being coated over.:its entire surface with an electrically conductive material except for its. opposite longitudinal edges mating with the corresponding edges of theother wall, said edges being non conductive, and the other wall having an arcuate -elec-, trically-conduct-ive band'thereon at one end and anieleca trically conductive stripextending from said'band to the opposite end of the corresponding wall,and the plunger for each switch housing being cylindrical and having an arcuate ,band partially encompassing the circumference at one end thereof, said last-mentionedarc-uate band having spaced ends leaving a gap which mates withthe conductive strip on said other wallduring movementof the plunger in the switch housing.

13. The assembly'of claim 9 wherein-the pair-of. con-. tact members comprise a pairof spacedplparallel electrically conductive strips extending longitudinally of the path of-rnov'ernent ot'theuplungenwat least .one of said strips having aztransverse portion extending toward the other. strip and a gap between saidvvtransverse portion and the otherstrip, and the plungerheing. electrically non-conductive .buthaving" an electrically conductive con-, tact plate positioned to bridge said'igap'when' .said. plunger is inapredeterm-ined position. v 1 1 ,5 z"

14; The assembly tofelairnt-9swherein theplunger. is constructed otresilientmaterial; 1 j I. I 7

I v Reierences Cited in the. file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 612,123 "'Schwedtmann 2,903,529 Hanthorn 2,923,800" Borde et al.

- on; 1111893 S p 8 1959 F b 24 50

Claims

8. A PUNCH CARD-OPERATED SWITCH ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A SINGLE PANEL OF ELECTRICALLY NON-CONDUCTIVE MATERIAL, A BANK OF ELECTRICAL SWITCH HOUSINGS IN SAID PANEL, A PLUNGER MOVABLE IN EACH OF SAID SWITCH HOUSINGS, EACH SWITCH HOUSING INCLUDING A PAIR OF ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS SPACED FROM EACH OTHER IN THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF THE CORRESPONDING PLUNGER, EACH PLUNGER HAVING AN ELECTRICAL CONTACT THEREON ARRANGED TO OPEN AND CLOSE AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT BETWEEN SAID SPACED ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS UPON MOVEMENT OF SAID PLUNGER FROM ONE POSITION TO ANOTHER, A PUNCH CARD HOLDER MOVABLE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID SUPPORT AND HAVING APERTURES THEREIN TO CORRESPOND IN NUMBER AND POSITION WITH SAID SWITCH HOUSINGS AND PLUNGERS, SAID HOLDER BEING CONSTRUCTED TO HOLD TO PUNCH CAR SO THAT ANY PERFORATIONS IN THE CARD MATE WITH CORRESPONDING APERTURES IN SAID HOLDER, PUNCHED PORTIONS OF SAID CARD PERMITTING PENETRATION THERETHROUGH OF CORRESPONDING PLUNGERS WHEN SAID HOLDER IS MOVED TOWARD SAID SUPPORT AND UNPUNCHED PORTIONS ACTING TO PUSH THE CORRESPONDING PLUNGERS IN THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF THE HOLDER WHEN THE HOLDER IS MOVED TOWARD SAID SUPPORT, AND MEANS RIGIDLY CONNECTED TO SAID HOLDER TO MOVE SAID PLUNGERS AWAY FROM SAID SUPPORT AS SAID HOLDER IS MOVED AWAY FROM SAID SUPPORT.